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y IL.. KUENIGSEERGER BRIDGE TABLE Filed Feb. 28, 1955 IN1/EN TOR.wmf/VCE Kanz/@www ATTORIVEY Patented Mar. 3l, 1936 stares ATENT OFFIQE23 Claims.

The present invention relates to a bridge table having embodied thereina system for indicating the dealer. While the present invention hasparticular application to bridge tables which are provided with anautomatic dealing mechanism and particularly of the type disclosed inPatent No. 1,889,729, it will be understood that if desired theinvention may also be applied to any ordinary bridge table.

In the playing of bridge and similar games the common practice is toemploytwo decks of cards. While one deck of cards is in play the otherdeck occupies a specified position, generally at the left of the nextdealer and its position is relied upon generally to indicate the nextdealer. In actual play, however, the deck is frequently misplaced and agood deal of confusion arises in the progress of the game. Moreover, thepresence of the deck on the table during the play is frequently anobstruction to the rapid progress of the game. For these reasons thepresent invention contemplates the vprovision of a ,tray which isdisposed below the top of the table and is adapted to receive a shuffleddeck of cards, the tray being operable to indicate the dealer of thelast hand. Where the invention is employed with the ordinary bridgetable the deck is shuliied byA the proper player and is then placed inthe tray and the tray is moved inwardly bringing about the operation ofthe dealer indicator. By ,means` of this device the deck does not remainon the top of the table during the play of the hand an no confusionarises on the next deal.

When a bridge table having an automatic dealing mechanismis embodied inthe play of the game of bridge a deck of cardsis being shuffled anddealt automatically during the `play of the hand and the presentinvention is vdesigned to cooperate with such a dealing mechanismwhereby the dealer is automatically indicated by the operation of thedealing mechanism. Without limiting the present invention to the specicdevices disclosed herein the automatic indicating system as applied tothis type of bridge table utilizes some of the operations necessary inthe dealing mechanism in order to automatically operate the dealerindicating system. More specifically in the type of dealing mechanismdisclosed in Patent No. 1,389,729 the feeding operation of the deck ofcards to the dealing mechanism is employed to operate the indicatorsystem. In the dealing mechanism referred to above a slidable tray isemployed for starting and stopping the dealer mechanism. In the presentinvention, therefore, the automatic indicating ,system is designed andconstructed to cooperate with the slidable tray so that when the same ismoved into its feeding position the indicating system is operated toindicate the next dealer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricalsystem which includes both the automatic dealing mechanism and thepresent indicating system, for the purpose of permitting the readycontrol and manipulation of both the dealing mechanism and theindicating system.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention it is deemed.unnecessary toembody in the present application the dealing mechanismembodied in the above patent and it is thought to be necessary only tomake reference to such parts of the dealing mechanism as cooperate withthe dealer indicating mechanism. It will be understood, however, thatthe present invention is not to be limited to the specific embodimentdisclosed herein or in the above patent and that many variations thereoffalling within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent topersons skilled in the art.

Other objects of the invention will appear from thefollowingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawingconstituting a part of the present application and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a bridge table, embodying the presentinvention as applied to the type of bridge table having an automaticdealing mechanism disclosed in the above patent.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view of the operating devices of thedealer indicating system and of Vsuch portions of the dealer mechanismas immediately cooperate with the operating devices of Vthe indicatingsystem.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system embodying boththe dealer mechanism and the indicating system.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the top of an ordinary bridge table embodyingthe present invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Fig.5.

The card table shown in l .oomprmes the foldinglegs l5, which are hingedin aconventional manner to the sides il of the table. A sheet l2 ofcardboard, plywood, sheet metal or other suitable material is secured tothe sides i l and forms the floor for the compartment which holds theoperating devices. The top i3 may be of any Ysuitable construction andis Aremovably mounted on the sides I I so. that it may be readily raisedfor inspection or repair of the operating devices disclosed in thechamber disposed below this top. In this type of table, each of thesides II is provided with an opening I4 for the purpose of providingaccess to card receptacles which constitute a part of the dealingmechanism and which are provided to receive the dealt hands. One of thesides II is additionally provided with an opening I5 for a deck tray I6.This deck inserting tray I6 is mounted for sliding or reciprocatingmovement.

In order to prepare the dealer mechanism embodied in the above patentfor operation the tray I6 is partly withdrawn through the opening I5 bymanually grasping the handle I1. cards is then inserted into the trayand the tray is moved inwardly to the fully operative position. Themechanism is provided with a suitable latch to engage the tray and lockthe same in operative position. When this feeding operation is completeda lug I 8, which is struck upwardly from a forward portion of the tray,engages the toggle lever I9 of a motor control switch 20 which issecured in a fixed position. 'Ihis switch is of the type in which aspring is incorporated to hold the switch in its off position. Thisswitch spring is further utilized to moive the tray I6 to itsinoperative position after the completion of the dealing operation whenthe tray is automatically unlatched.

The closing of the switch 2D by the feeding operation of the trayenergizes the motor 54 which serves to operate the automatic dealermechanism.

The dealer indicating system comprises four electric lamps S, W, N andE. These lamps are preferably disposed within a chamber formed by thetop I3 and the base plate I2, the top I3 being provided withcorresponding openings 2I immediately over these lamps. The lamps andopenings are preferably disposed immediately to the left of the fourplaying positions. One terminal of each of the indicator lamps areelectrically connected together by means of the conductor 22 and to oneside of the secondary 23 of a step down transformer 24. The otherterminal of each of the lamps is connected by conductors 25, 26, 2I and28 respectively to the resilient contact elements 29, 30, 3I and 32respectively. These contact elements are so designed and constructedthat they are adapted to make contact successively with the cam shapedcommutator plate 33, this plate preferably having a notch 34 in the camportion thereof. The other terminal of the secondary 23 is connected bymeans of the conductor 35 tothe resilient metallic brush 36 which isalways in contact with the commutator plate 33.

The commutator 33 carries a four tooth ratchet 3'I which may be attachedthereto in any manner desired, as by rivets 38. The pintle 39 is alsofixed to the commutator plate and passes through the journal bearing 40which is carried by the plate I2. The lower end of the pintle 39 isprovided with a manually operable handle 4I which permits of the manualrotation of the commutator. A plate 42 is preferably attached to thebase plate I 2 and carries the commutator and the contacts, as isclearly shown in Fig. 2. In addition to the above elements the platealso carries the lever 43 which is pivotally mounted on the base plate42 by means of the pin 44. The lever 43 is provided at one end thereofwith a roller 45 which engages the free ends of the tray I6.

The deck of A spring 46 is anchored at one end to the plate 42 as shownat 4'I and is also attached toy one end of the lever 43 as is shown inFig. 2. This spring serves to hold the roller 45 in engagement with theinner end of the tray I6.

The pawl 48 is pivoted at 49 on the lever 43 and is designed to beconstantly in engagement with the ratchet 31. For this purpose atensioning spring 50 is attached to the lever 43 at one end and to thepawl 48 at the other end.

Referring now to the electrical system disclosed in Fig. 4, the presentsystem comprises a two conductor cord 5I having the conventional twoterminal plug 52 at the free end thereof. The cord 5I leads to a pointimmediately below the table adjacent to the motor 54. A manuallyoperable switch 53 is preferably placed in this cord at this point andby means of this switch the entire electrical circuit including themotor 54 and the dealer indicating system may be opened.

The switch 20 is disposed as shown in Fig. 4 and one of the terminals ofthe primary winding of the transformer 24 is connected to that portionof the conductor which is disposed between the switches 20 and 53, theother terminal of the primary winding being connected to the otherconductor of the two conductor cord 5 I, as shown in Fig. 4 of thedrawing.

In operation the tray I 6 is withdrawn, the card deck is placed in thetray and the tray IB is then moved inwardly to its latched position.During this movement the lever 43 is operated upon, thus causing thepawl 48 to move the ratchet 3! through an angle of thereby moving thecommutator plate from the position shown in Fig.

the wrong indicator has gone into operation. In i that case the handle4I is manually operated to move the commutator plate and ratchet intothe proper position so that the proper indicator is in operation.Thereafter throughout the evening of play the system will operateautomatically and will give the correct indication at every deal.

The electrical system shown in Fig. 4 permits of the full and accuratecontrol of the system and more particularly the switch 53 may be openedin order to prevent the operation of the system during a temporaryinterruption of the game. Moreover, by means of the electrical systemdisclosed herein the dealer indication remains in operation even afterthe completion of the deal at which time the switch 20 is in itsnormally open position.

It will be seen that when the present invention is applied to a tablehaving an automatic dealing mechanism, the dealing mechanism is notinterfered with in any manner whatsoever, and the operation of theindicating system is brought about Without altering the table andmechanism shown in the Patent No. 1,889,729. The indicating system ismerely added to the table in the manner shown, and the system anddevices embodied therein are so disposed with relation to the dealingmechanism that the feeding operation involved in the normal operation ofthe dealing mechanism also serves to operate the indicator system. AAndin addition the camplate may be operated manually at the beginning ofthe evenings play when necessary.

When the present invention is applied to the ordinary `bridge table theplate 42 carrying the operating elements may be mounted on the underface of the -top and the tray G0 is mounted in such a manner as tocooperate with the lever 43 in the manner shown. The tray preferablypasses through an opening 6l in one of the side walls of the table andis additionally supported by the bracket 62. The tray preferably has apartition 63 which forms a deck receiving compartment.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a bridge table having a top provided with an openingat each playing position, an indicator disposed below each of saidopenings and visible therethrough to indicate the iirst bidder, areciprocable tray shaped and formed to receive a deck of playing cardscarried by said table, and means operable by the movement of said trayincident to each dealing of a complete hand to operate a preselectedindicator to indicate successively the first bidder of each new hand.

2. In combination, a bridge table having a top provided with an openingat each playing position, an indicator disposed below each of saidopenings and visible therethrough to indicate the first bidder, areciprocable tray shaped and formed to receive a deck of playing cardscarried by said table, and means operable by the movement of said trayin one direction incident to each dealing of a complete hand to operatea preselected-indicator to indicate successively the first bidder ofeach new hand, said means being operable by the movement of the tray inthe opposite direction to prepare said means for the next operation toextinguish the indicator and to operate the next succeeding indicator,by the successive movement of said tray in the rst direction.

3. In combination, a bridge table having a top provided with an openingat each playing position, an indicator disposed below each of saidopenings and Visible therethrough to indicate the dealer, said tablehaving shallow side walls, a tray shaped and formed to receive a deck ofplaying cards and slidable through an opening in one of said side walls,and means operable by successive inward movements of the tray to operatesaid indicators successively.

4. In combination a bridge table having a top provided with an openingat each playing position, an indicator disposed below each opening andvisible therethrough to indicate the rst bidder, a card distributingmechanism mounted beneath said top, and means operable by said carddistributing mechanism incident to each dealing of a complete hand toindicate successively the first bidder of each new hand.

5. In a bridge table, the combination of a dealing mechanism, means forinserting a stack of cards in position for operative engagement by saiddealing mechanism, and means operable by said rst mentioned means uponeach insertion oi the cards to indicate successively the v.first bidderof each new hand.

6. In a bridge table, the combination of a dealing mechanism, means forinserting a stackof cards in position for operative engagement by saiddealing mechanism, means operable by said first means upon eachinsertion of the cards to indicate successively the rst bidder of eachnew hand, a latch for locking said iirst mentioned means in saidposition, and means actuated upon the `completion of the operation ofVsaid dealing mechanism to release said latch.

'7. In a bridge table the combination of a card dealing mechanism vandmeans operative upon feeding a stack of playing cards to said mechanismto indicate successively the first bidder of each new hand.

8. In a bridge table of the type having a card dealing mechanismincorporated therein, means operative upon feeding a stock of playingcards to said mechanism to indicate successively the first bidder ofeach 'new hand, said means comprising an indicator for each playingposition and devices for extinguishing one indicator and operatinganother indicator at each feeding operation,

9. In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from said tray and distribute them intoseparatehands; means operable by the movement of said tray into operativeposition incident to each dealing of `a complete hand to indicatesuccessively the first bidder of each new hand.

10. In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from` said tray and distribute them intoseparate hands; means operable by the movement of said tray intooperative position incident to each dealing of a complete hand toindicate successively the first bidder of each new hand, said meanscomprising an indicator for each player position and devices operable bythe movement of said tray into operative position to extinguish oneindicator and to operate another indicator.

1l. In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from said tray and distribute them into separatehands; means operable by the movement of said tray into operativeposition incident to each dealing of a complete hand to indicatesuccessively the first bidder of each new hand, said last named meanscomprising an electric circuit, four electrically operable indicators inparallel portions of said circuit, and a commutator operable by themovement of said tray to open the circuit of one of said indicators andto close the circuit of another indicator.

l2. In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from said tray and distribute them into separatehands; means operable by the movement of said tray into operativeposition incident to each dealing of a complete hand to indicatesuccessively the first bidder of each new hand, said means comprisingfour parallel electric circuits each including an electric indicator, acommutator for said circuits, a pivcted arm having its free end inengagement with said tray, and means carried by said arm to operate saidcommutator.

13. .In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from said tray and distribute them into separatehands; means operable by the movement of said tray into operativeposition incident to each dealing of a complete hand to indicatesuccessively the rst bidder of each new hand, said means comprising anindicator for each player position and devices operable by the movementof said tray into operative position to extinguish one indicator and tooperate another indicator, and means for manually setting said devices.

14. In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from said tray and distribute them into separatehands; means operable by the movement of said tray into operativeposition incident to each dealing of a complete hand to indicatesuccessively the first bidder of each new hand, said last named meanscomprising an electric circuit, four electrically operable indicators inparallel portions of said circuit, and a commutator operable by themovement of said tray to open the circuit of one of said indicators andto close the circuit of another indicator, and means for manuallysetting said cornmutator.

15. In a bridge table of the type having an electrically operableautomatic card dealing mechanism, an electrical system indicatingsuccessively the first bidder of each new hand, a two conductor cordhaving means at one end for connecting the same to a source of power andconnected to said dealing mechanism at the other end, a manuallyoperable switch disposed in said cord circuit immediately adjacent saiddealing mechanism and readily accessible for the control ofthe operationof the dealing mechanism and of the indicator system, an automaticswitch in said cord circuit disposed interiorly of the table andoperative upon feeding a stack of playing cards to said mechanism, saidelectrical indicating system also operative upon feeding a stack ofplaying cards to said mechanism, said system comprising a transformerhaving its primary connected to said cord at a point between saidswitches.

16. In combination a bridge table having an opening at each playingposition, an indicator disposed adjacent each of said openings andvisible therethrough to indicate the first bidder, a reciprocable trayshaped and formed to receive a deck of playing cards carried by saidtable, and means operable by the movement of said tray incident to eachdealing of a complete hand to operate a preselected indicator toindicate successively the first bidder of each new hand.

17. In a bridge table, the combination of mechanically actuated carddealing means including a movable member and adapted for dealing theplaying cards in proper position to be taken up by the respectiveplayers, an electrical signalling device identifying each player seatedat the table, a source of electrical energy and circuit wiringconnecting said signalling devices and including a selector switchactuated by said movable member once during each complete card deal torender said signal devices effective to indicate the first bidder ofeach new deal.

18. In combination with a card table, and a card dealing mechanism inthe table, a signal mechanism mounted in the table for indicatingsuccessively the first bidder of each new hand and actuating means forthe signal mechanism operable incidental to actuation of the carddealing mechanism.

19. In a four sided bridge table, the combination of mechanicallyactuated card dealing means for dealing the playing cards in propernumber and at the respective sides of the table to be taken up by therespective players, an electrical signaling device located at each sideof the table, a source of electrical energy and circuit wiringconnecting said signaling devices and including a selector switch havinga plurality of spaced contacts connected in said wiring and eachcomplementary to a signaling device and a movable contact makerconnected in said wiring and automatically actuated step-by-step oncefor each complete deal to successively engage said contacts and effectactuation of the signaling devices individually associated therewith forthe purpose described.

20. In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from said tray and distribute them into separatehands; means operable by the movement of said tray into operativeposition incident to each dealing of a complete hand to indicatesuccessively the rst bidder of each new hand, said means comprising anindicator for each player position and devices operable by the movementof said tray into operative position to render one indicator inoperativeand to operate another indicator, and means for manually setting saiddevices independent of the operation of said devices.

21. In a bridge table of the type having a card deck tray movable intoand out of operative position and having a dealing mechanism operable tomove cards successively from said tray and distribute them into separatehands; means operable by the movement of said tray into operativeposition incident to each dealing of a complete hand to indicatesuccessively the rst bidder of each new hand, said last named meanscomprising an electric circuit, four electrically operable indicators inparallel portions of said circuit, and a commutator operable by themovement of said tray to open the circuit of one of said indicators andto close the circuit of another indicator, and means for manuallysetting said commutator to indicate the initial bidder of a series ofhands.

22. In a bridge table, the combination of mechanically actuated carddealing means, signalling devices automatically actuated by said dealingmeans to indicate the first bidder of each new hand, and means formanually actuating said signalling devices independently of theautomatic actuation thereof.

23. In a four sided bridge table, the combination of mechanicallyactuated card dealing means for dealing the playing cards in propernumber and at the respective sides of the table to be taken up by therespective players, a signal device located at each side of the table,means actuated automatically by said card dealing means, once for eachcomplete deal for rendering the signal devices individually andsuccessively effective to indicate in sequence the first bidder of eachnew hand, and means for manually actuating said means for rendering thesignal devices effective to enable determination of the side at whichsaid individual successive sequence indication shall start.

LAWRENCE KOENIGSBERGER.

